Before we dig into our top picks for elevated dog bowls, it’s important to address the controversy on the risks and rewards of feeding from an elevated dog bowl.
Limited information and a rash of opinions (some qualified, some not), cast a huge gray area over the truth about rather elevated dog bowls are good or bad for our pets.
One study shows an increase in bloat cases with dogs who use elevated dog dishes and another study shows contradictory findings. Both studies were relatively sound and conducted by trusted sources so what’s the real answer?
The real answer is… There is no real answer yet. We simply lack enough information to make the call at this point.
One thing we CAN all agree on though is that there are some benefits to using elevated dishes for some dogs with a variety of conditions. This means that they're here to stay.
Our Picks: Top 5 Elevated Dog Bowls
Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
#1 - Pet Zone Designer Diner Dog Bowls | ||
#2 - IRIS Small Elevated Feeder | ||
#3 - OurPets Comfort Diner Elevated Feeder | ||
#4 - Platinum Pets Modern Double Diner Feeder | ||
|
#5 - Foreyy Raised Pet Bowls - Bamboo |
We researched several on the market and detailed out top five choices for best elevated dog bowls out there. This article will detail what we chose and why we chose them.
What is an Elevated Dog Bowl?
In simple terms it's a dog bowl that is elevated off the ground. (who would have guessed huh?) These dog bowls are usually built with stands of some type and these stands can get creative.
There is no "standard" for the type of stand or the height of the bowl off the ground. This makes it even more difficult to choose the best one for your dog. What we can tell you is that the best elevated bowls for one dog may not be the best for all dogs.
Why Buy an Elevated Dog Bowl?
It's natural for a dog to bend their neck down and eat from ground level, so why would someone want to change the natural order of how a dog eats by introducing an elevated dog dish?
There are a few good reasons why and you'll probably fall squarely into one of these three reasons.
Reason #1: Your dog has health problems.
Elevated dog bowls are most widely accepted and recommended by vets for dogs with orthopedic conditions, joint disorders, spinal conditions, arthritis, or for senior dogs with limited mobility.
Basically, if your dog has trouble eating off the ground level dish, a raised dish could improve their quality of life quite quickly.
Reason #2: Your dog is really big.
If you have a Great Dane, an Irish Wolfhound, or another giant breed of dog, they may benefit from an elevated dog bowl.
It's not that they can't reach all the way to the ground - it just may be more comfortable for them if the bowl is higher up. In their case, you may want to get very large, elevated dog bowls.
Reason #3: Personal Preference.
Perhaps you simply like elevated dog bowls. Maybe you like the aesthetics of the elevated dog dishes and they fit in with your home decor better. Whatever the reason, there is nothing wrong with that!
As long as your dog has something to eat out of, get your dog whatever kind of dog bowl you like so long as your pup is healthy, happy, and not having difficulty eating or drinking.
At least until further research is done and a more definitive yes or no can be established, personal preference is about all we can really go on.
What to Look For in an Elevated Dog Bowl
Elevated dog bowls vary widely in design. However, there are a few features that you'll want to be on the lookout for. Here are a few of the more important ones.
- A Sturdy BaseSince the bowl is elevated, you'll want to make sure the bowl has a good, sturdy base. Otherwise the bowl will get knocked over every time Fido gets hungry. In fact, without a good base, it might tumble over when you try to fill it. The best bet is to get an elevated dog bowl that has a wide base.
- Dual-DishHaving a dual-dish elevated dog bowl allows you to put food in one side and water in the other. This means you won't need two separate elevated dog bowls. It's efficient and it saves money.
- AdjustabilityAn adjustable elevated dog bowl is great for growing dogs. As your dog goes from a pup to an elder, you can increase the height keeping it comfortable for your four-legged family member. This is also great in case your dog develops a health problem later and needs the dog bowl height adjusted.
- SizeIt doesn't matter how nice an elevated dog bowl is, if the bowl sizes are too small for your dog it will become a hassle for you. Be sure to consider the size of the dishes and ensure they are large enough to feed your pup the correct amount of food.
- Bowl MaterialSome elevated dog bowls are made of plastic. While it might be okay for the stand to be made of a plastic (heavy-duty plastic only), you may want to avoid plastic bowls. They won't hold up very well if your dog is a chewer.
Enough jib-jab about the “why”, let’s get into our tip 5 picks! Listed in order of our top pick down.
Keep in mind that any bowl that made this list is a great choice, we simply rated them base don our criteria in the order that we preferred them as described below.
Any dish listed here is still a high-quality product that meets most of the criteria we've listed above. Keep reading to find out more.
Top 5 Bet Elevated Dog Bowls
1. Pet Zone Designer Diner Adjustable Elevated Dog Feeder
It's interesting how the manufacturers created an adjustable elevated dog feeder that uses the same three pieces for each height. It's efficient and it's genius. You can either use the legs the tall way, use them the short way for a mid-height, or don't use them all for a very short height.
The three heights are 2.75 inches, 8 inches, and 12 inches. The shortest height may be a little too short for dogs, but it could be great for cats or puppies.
The feeder is made of a very high-quality, PVC plastic. It's durable and easy to clean. The legs can fold away up under the tray making it small enough for easy transport. This way, you don't have to be without it.
This feeder is available in three different colors: black, pink, and blue.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and use.
- Very sturdy when placed against a wall.
- Comes in three colors.
Cons:
- Water easily collects under bowl rim and is hard to get out.
- The small size is REALLY small.
2. IRIS Elevated Feeder with Airtight Storage
This highly rated elevated feeder serves a dual-purpose - it is also a storage container for your dog's food. The storage compartment is airtight, so your dog’s food will stay fresh until it is needed. Who doesn’t love a two-for-one value?
The Iris Elevated Feeder comes in three different sizes - small, medium, and large - that are suitable for small, medium, and large dogs respectively. Due to the height changes with each size, the amount of food you can store changes also.
The largest size can hold up to 30 pounds of dog food. This elevated dog bowl is a pet-lover favorite because of the value as well as the sturdiness and quality of it.
Pros:
- Has no skid feet.
- Lightweight and simple to assemble.
- When filled with food, it makes it even more sturdy.
- Comes in three different colors and sizes.
Cons:
- Latch is a little weak.
- Made of PVC plastic.
- Water may collect under the water bowl.
3. OurPets Comfort Diner Elevated Dog Feeder
The OurPets elevated dog feeder is a great budget option. These elevated dog bowls have one of the sturdiest bases you'll find. The base is very wide and when in use its firmly planted on the floor.
The stand is made from plastic, but it's a thick, heavy-duty, sturdy PVC plastic that is designed to last a long time. The two five-cup bowls are made from stainless steel. Overall, it's a good, sturdy, durable set up.
One of the most impressive features about this dog feeder is that it has an auto-watering stand. Simply remove the water bowl and flip a water bottle upside down into the hole on the side of the bowl cavity. As your dog drinks, the water refills itself from the bottle.
This works for bottles up to two liters in size. This is a unique feature that you won't find on too many elevated dog feeders.
Pros:
- Auto-watering feature means less hassle.
- Comes in three sizes.
- Very affordable.
Cons:
- Does not have non-slip rubber feet.
- Comes with sticky tape that's hard to remove.
4. Platinum Pets Modern Double Diner Feeder
This is a great elevated dog feeder that would be perfect in a minimalist setting. It features a strong, hand-molded wrought iron frame and two powder-coated stainless-steel bowls.
The feeder comes in four different sizes ranging from extra-small (four inches high) to extra-large (18.25 inches high).
The interesting thing about the sizes is that, unlike other elevated dog feeders, the bowls get larger with each larger stand size. This makes it truly suitable for giant breed dogs.
The bowls are definitely worth mentioning. They come in eighteen different colors - some metallic and some pastel - so you'll have no problems matching them to your room's decor.
The bowls also have a silicone ring around the rim, so you don't have to worry about the metal bowl clamoring against the metal stand. This ring also helps to keep the bowl in place, so it doesn't move and spin around when your dog is eating.
Pros:
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Has rubber pads on each of the four legs.
- Weight from the wrought iron makes it sturdy.
Cons:
- Some bowl colors are susceptible to chipping.
- If the stand tips over, the bowls will break.
5. Foreyy Raised Pet Bowls
Not only is the Foreyy dog feeder convenient for your dog, it's very stylish because it's made of bamboo and has a beautiful appearance. It could easily become the centerpiece of your kitchen (or whichever room you put it in).
The feeder comes with two stainless steel bowls that can hold up to four cups of food each (or 30 ounces of water).
Bamboo has a lot of great properties, one of which is being water-resistant. This is great if your dog happens to be a sloppy drinker.
It also has non-slip rubber feet and wipes clean easily. You can get this dog feeder in four different sizes ranging from four inches to 15 inches, so there is an option for just about any size dog.
Pros:
- Bamboo has natural anti-microbial properties.
- Simple, easy assembly.
- The company has amazing customer service.
Cons:
- Confusing instructions although assembly is easy.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding the right elevated dog bowls, you need to look for one that is sturdy enough, tall enough, has two bowls, and is made of sturdy material. Oh, and it may as well look good too!
All the elevated dog bowls listed above meet our basic requirements and would make a fine addition to your home, but if you’re looking for the absolute best product at the best price, it has to be the Pet-Zone Designer Adjustable Dish.
